‘Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.’AA 12 Steps and 12 Traditions: bottom of page 104It’s our attitude and our hearts condition that we bring to Step 11The Absolutes. Absolute willingness, love, honesty. That’s were Bill and Bob were coming from. How can anybody or even God help me if I’m not honest. The format for the study buddy is to say “Thanks for sharing” No comments on other people sharing. Learn from other people’s sharing. If you comment on their sharing you’re limiting their ability to be 100% honest. They have to be able to share 100% honest because many see God as a punishing God. We’re (addicts) are all sensitive. "God, I offer myself to Thee - to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. (May I do thy will always)Set aside prayer. Look up:

RebellionSeizedException12x12 bottom of 104We discover that We discover that we do receive guidance for our lives to just about the extent that we stop making demands upon God to give it to us on order and on our terms. Almost any experienced A.A. will tell how his affairs have taken remarkable and unexpected turns for the better as he tried to improve his conscious contact with God. He will also re- STEP ELEVE N 105 port that out of every season of grief or suffering, when the hand of God seemed heavy or even unjust, new lessons for living were learned, new resources of courage were uncovered, and that finally, inescapably, the conviction came that God does “move in a mysterious way His wonders to perform.” All this should be very encouraging news for those who recoil from prayer because they don't believe in it, or because they feel themselves cut off from God's help and direction. All of us, without exception, pass through times when we can pray only with the greatest exertion of will. Occasionally we go even further than this. We are seized with a rebellion so sickening that we simply won't pray. When these things happen we should not think too ill of ourselves. We should simply resume prayer as soon as we can, doing what we know to be good for us.When we stop making demands upon God and others, we cannot look to people, places, things and demand that they fill us up. That’s what we were doing with alcohol and food--“fill me up, fill me up, Change my mood. I’m sad so let me eat a pint of ice cream and it’s going to make me feel better. Or go to someone and use them-- “I’m sad-make me happy or I’m lonely—make me feel loved”. And then we get in these crazy co-depend relationships with other people that are needy. We’ve got to stop making demands. AND THAT’s WHERE HUMILITY COMES IN. Humility is the opposite of demanding. “Would you consider being my sponsor or listening to my work? And thanking the person Going to God and saying “God, if it be your will, would you see your way to giving me the willingness to put the food or alcohol etc. down. And thanking him. Assignment:

How do you subtly making demands on God?

How are you making demands on your 12 step group? Husband/children, boss, company. It’s an attitude of entitlement. Who are you making demands on.?

How can you live in gratitude for everything you’ve been given?

Are you still having that demanding attitude?

Stephanie has good boundaries towards those with an attitude of entitlement. (“you be there because I need you”) She tells people what she can do and what she can’t. At 4 yrs she made demands on others, food so she would not be afraid, lonely. Food isn’t supposed to do that for you.Top of page 105 Almost any experienced A.A. will tell how his affairs have taken remarkable and unexpected turns for the better as he tried to improve his conscious contact with God.Go to God saying “God I want to know you better, I want to know your will better.” Go humbly and ask. Not demanding.

What was the last season of grief or suffering you’ve been through and what were the lessons that you learned? What were the new lessons of courage you learned?

(Stephanie—passing of her parents, son going to live with his Dad. She learned a lot about living and that she could trust in God. She tried going to people, tons of people and they were great, she loves her intimate circle and is very grateful for them but they couldn’t take away the grief and pain. They weren’t with her at 2 in the morning. God was. She’s not in a season of grief right now but she’s building her spiritual muscle. She’s walking closer to God. She is giving him more of her honesty.)This is how you get well. You will become a benefit to others. Not by just reading the words but by putting the words into your heart—to your soul—to your thinking and from your thinking to your acting. You become a changed person. You’ll be someone others can rely on when they go through a crises. You’ll be mature and be a benefit. Bringing joy, peace and happiness to the event. Because every person is either out of a season of grief or walking towards one. Going to God and setting healthy boundaries around food, drink, bedtimes, quiet time etc. Around things that make us a benefit to others, especially during seasons of suffering. All of us go through dry times but Don’t give into the rebellion that you won’t pray. If you do rebel against praying, read the prayers, tell God how you feel. Ex: “I don’t want to feel this way etc” And thank him.All this should be very encouraging news for those who recoil from prayer because they don't believe in it, or because they feel themselves cut off from God's help and direction. All of us, without exception, pass through times when we can pray only with the greatest exertion of will. Occasionally we go even further than this. We are seized with a rebellion so sickening that we simply won't pray. When these things happen we should not think too ill of ourselves. We should simply resume prayer as soon as we can, doing what we know to be good for us.Talk to God like you’d talk to a friend. “I’m angry at you, I don’t like what’s going on” etc. And then do the prayers of the BB. And ask God for help “Help me not to be so rebellious.”

Our live phone meetings are every Thursday at 8:00 AM EST. The phone number for these live meetings is (712) 775-7031, and the meeting ID number is 714744988#.

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Stephanie Whiting P O Box 531 North Pembroke MA 02358

You can listen to our recorded meetings at (641) 715-3900, pin 95666# for our Thursday Big Book Step Study workshop. You can also hear our Tuesday Big Book Study recordings at (641) 715-3900, pin 298913#. These meetings can be accessed at any time.